Following Demetrious Johnson‘s win over a PED user in June, UFC.com has the news on the flyweight champ’s next title defense:
UFC 177 in Sacramento now has a co-main event, as Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson defends his UFC flyweight title against Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso, making the August 30 event a championship doubleheader, headlined by the rematch between bantamweight titleholder TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao.
Currently ranked number four on the pound-for-pound list, UFC flyweight champion Johnson – the only 125-pound titleholder in the promotion’s history – has successfully defended his crown four times, most recently shutting out Ali Bagautinov over five rounds at UFC 174 in June.
When I look at the UFC’s flyweight rankings, no name really jumps out at me as someone who I feel could really give the champ a run for his money except possibly John Dodson. Yes, Johnson (20-2-1) beat him once already via decision, but Dodson has looked much improved and is showing some serious power in his hands. Johnson is also starting to show some good power too, for that matter.
The number eight-ranked Cariaso (17-5) was originally slated to compete against Kyoji Horiguchi in September at UFC Fight Night 52, but he’s been pulled from that bout to take on Mighty Mouse for whatever reason.
After dropping back-to-back fights to John Moraga (via submission) and Jussier Formiga (via decision), Cariaso has won his last three in a row, over Iliarde Santos, Danny Martinez, and most recently, Louis Smolka. So, are you feeling this match-up for Mighty Mouse?
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